Watering 101

It's hot here again. And no rain for quite awhile. A good time to talk about proper watering.

It's always better to water a few times at length rather than every day for a few minutes.  True for gardens and lawns.  True if by hand or by irrigation system.  You do not want the roots coming up to the surface for water. Deep watering encourages roots to go deep to get moisture and nutrients, and stay cool. Plus after a drought the ground is hard and a light watering, or rainfall, will just run off.  Don't be fooled by our increasingly hard but brief rainstorms. 

Containers should be allowed to absorb water slowly. A pool of water on top won't get down to the roots. Water, let it sink in, then water again - or maybe three times. Remember, moisture attracts moisture.

"Everyone must leave something behind when he dies... a child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there. It doesn't matter what you do as long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away. The difference between the man who cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching... the lawn cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime."

--Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451

Nature's Clock

The forsythia are blooming here in Chicago,  They appeared to pop open overnight.  It's quite possible with these extremely warm temperatures all week.  It has been in the high 70s and it isn't even officially spring yet.  Forsythia shrubs are known for their early bloom and bright yellow splash of color.  The flowers bloom before the leaves appear, making for a showy display. 

Besides being a bright yellow indicator of spring (normally), the forsythia clock is useful for planning other garden tasks. It indicates the soil is at least 55 degrees.  If needed, you should use crabgrass preventor now since the seeds are ready to germinate. Crabgrass must be treated with a pre-emergent in early spring even though the evil weed shows up in summer.

And forsythia blooms mean it is time to prune your roses. Best to forgo fall pruning and do it now while the leaf buds are starting to swell. Don't forget to feed them now too with a rose fertilizer and maybe a shot of seaweed or fish fertilizer.  If you don't have forsythia around you, look for the crocus blooms.

Traditionally, you can plant peas on St. Patrick's Day.  Of course the weather varies year to year.  It was cold this time last year and my peas took awhile to emerge.  But when the daffodils bloom, it is time.  Mine opened this week so the peas went in today.   

Lilac shrubs are supposed to tell time for several tasks depending on their progress.  Plant lettuce when they leaf out, beans when in full bloom, and cucumbers when blooms fade.  I am going to test it out this year. 

These are easier reminders for me than remembering to check a calendar or the seed pack notes. And likely more accurate season to season.  I can be gently reminded daily by Nature herself as I walk my dog or do my gardening.

2012 Chicago Flower and Garden Show - And Seed Swap

This year's Chicago Flower and Garden Show at Navy Pier will run from March 10th to the 18th.  The theme is Haute Couture.  There are numerous garden displays, floral arrangement ideas, seminars, workshops, and cooking demonstrations.  Also, there's the marketplace for seeds, plants, tools, and more.

New this year is a seed swap organized by our own Chicago garden blogger, MrBrownThumb.  It's The Great Chicago Seed Swap and will take place on Sunday, March 11, at 3pm.  If you have never been to a seed swap, it is a fun time and educational, too.  You never know what you might find to grow this spring.  Something needed or wanted or just something different! 

Hope to see you there! 

http://www.chicagoflower.com/

Midwinter Microgreens

If you are chomping at the bit to start seeds in winter, or just crave some fresh greens, try growing microgreens in recycled containers.  It is easy and quick and doesn't require special equipment or even fertilizing.  Microgreens are a great way to introduce yourself or someone else to seed starting because of the high success rate and quick germination.  It is empowering and fun.  Plus tasty and nutritional.  Experienced gardeners can experiment with their own mixes and unusual choices. 

I tried a spicy mesclun mix that was so easy.  But so hot.  Too much for me, but if you like that, be sure to grow cress or arugula.  Milder lettuces and spinach, as well as aromatic cilantro and basil, also do well.  I have last season's parsley and chives growing in their containers inside but I bet they would do well from seed, too. 

The attached blog post from Botanical Interests gives step by step directions on how to grow microgreens, and includes a list of plants the blogger has grown with good results.  I have stuck mine under lights for a quick start but you don't really need to do that.  When I need the grow light space for long term seed starting I skip it and yet can still grow more plants in a limited space.  

I also have not always covered my containers and they have done fine with misting, but it certainly does help keep the moisture in.  It is a matter of what containers you have and how much you care how they look.  Cute ones on the sill or recycled ones from the bin.  I do both.  Just be sure whatever you use has drainage holes.

I hope you try this and have fun with it.  I would love to hear what seeds you sow inside and how they did.  Based on this list I am going to give cabbage a try - a new plant for me to grow this year.  Might as well start now.

http://www.inthegardenwithjudy.com/gardeningcoach/gardening-101-growing-micro-greens/

In The Mood....

A recent study suggests scientific support for the emotional enjoyment we get from gardening.  A specific bacteria in the soil may be a mood enhancer, and exposure to it can lift our spirits. 

I always credited the joy of gardening to a combination of things: being in touch with our agrarian past (it just feels so right to dig in the soil); a connection to nature and the cycle of the seasons; the rewards we get from nurturing our plants; and the satisfaction of a completed job (even weeding) or a creative one.  I think these are indeed psychological factors that can positively affect our physical chemistry, but it is intriguing to think that there may be a purely physical cause that can create this effect. 

My gardening friend told me years ago that in winter she loves to go to a greenhouse and just smell the soil.  I thought that was brilliant and have to say when I have done it the effects were immediate.  The smell of fresh damp soil evoked memories of warmer gardening weather and the excitement to start again.  Part of it, at least for me, is feeling the humidity we lack indoors in winter.  But clearly Nancy was on to something big.

Here's a link to a story about the study.  I would take issue with the term "dirt" since "soil" is what plants love and what we gardeners work to create for them.  Ideally it is crumbly and teams with microbes and beneficial fungi.  Sounds like a good subject for a separate post.  Meanwhile, keep this trick in mind even if you can't get outside or work the land.  It appears we can still benefit from just being around the soil.

http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/mood-boosting-bacteria-found-dirt-213800904.html

Temperature Trumps Calendar

With the warm weather we had last week, some perennials are popping their heads through the soil.  I have seen daylilies and some spring bulbs.  Daylilies are tough as nails.  Hard to kill them even if you wanted to!  I have seen them survive under standing water.  Aquatic daylilies.  Maybe a new breed.  So no worries if yours are waking up early.

Daylilies in January

Those delicate looking spring-flowering bulbs are pretty tough little numbers, too.  I know it is tempting to bundle them up against the returning winter chill, but that makes them even warmer and cozier, and therefore more likely to grow.  Leave them be unless you see flower buds forming.  Do cover them up with some leaves or mulch.  They may get frost nipped anyway, but the bulbs should go back to sleep, and rebloom in spring when we need them most.

OneSeedChicago for 2012!

Hey Chicagoans, it's that time of year again!  Time to vote for your favorite candidate in the OneSeedChicago contest.  And receive a free seed packet of the winning plant this spring. 

In the past there have been natives and veggies.  I had faves from the start.  This year the choices are all herbs.  Sigh.  I adore them all. 

Basil is so easy to start and so useful.
Cilantro tastes so fresh and the seeds are coriander.
Chamomile makes relaxing tea and has scented leaves.

Here is the ballot and more information on the program.
http://www.oneseedchicago.com/

Overwinter Your Amaryllis? Yes You Can!

Here are helpful and clear instructions for overwintering Amaryllis bulbs for blooms next year.  It is easy and so rewarding. (Note - I have no connection to this company). I leave mine in the pot since I don't have the in-ground conditions. But they will need to be put in bigger pots come fall after a season of growth.  Don't forget drainage.  Many attractive "bulb" pots don't have it.  At least use a plastic insert that does. 

http://blog.gardeners.com/2011/12/amaryllis-again.html?SC=YNA7001C&utm_source=direct&utm_campaign=control&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Jan12NEws&email=mv2p04%40yahoo.com&nlid=14191.1324830.0.1.0.5977011&eid=mv2p04%40yahoo.com

I have had the best luck with large, quality bulbs, but they do tend to be pricier.  So experiment with what you have.  Just be sure to buy bulbs that have no soft spots or mold on them.  And remember to fertilize so you don't get all leaves.

I like to start mine for bloom after the holidays for a shot of color in January or February.  Allow six to eight weeks.  Some warmth helps them grow faster but a cool place later on will keep the bloom going longer. 

So save some money and keep your favorites!  Here are mine.

Amaryllis 'Showmaster'

Amaryllis 'Picotee'

Bulb Planting for Busy Gardeners

Bulbs are such a treat in the spring.  Sometimes surprising, always colorful, and a welcome reminder that warmer days are ahead.  However, they have to be planted the previous fall when other garden chores may be keeping you busy or it is getting a bit nippy out.  It is worth planning ahead, but don't fret if you find the calendar flipped over and the bulbs still in their bags. 

Generally we think of mid-October as bulb planting weather here.  But it can be warm late in to the year.  And temperature, not calendar, is what counts.  The bulbs don't know if it's October or November (or occasionally December).  But they do know cold means store up the food for blooms and warmth means start growing.  So planting too early is not recommended nor is planting in fall if too warm.  As a colleague put it, plant bulbs when the weather is cool enough for a sweater and sniffles.   And if the ground isn't frozen late in the year, or too wet, it is worth a try.  Beats looking regretfully at those wasted bags of bulbs

Keep on Growing - Overwintering Herbs Indoors

I love my herbs.  I'd grow them just for their beauty and the lift I get from brushing up against the wonderfully scented lavender or rosemary.  But I also use them to make salves and soaps, and teas and vinegars.  And of course it is nice to have some fresh herbs to toss into salads and pasta dishes.  So it is a real disappointment for me to have to give them up over long Chicago winters.  But I don't have to give them all up and I am experimenting more each season with what may grow inside, just on or near my windowsill.  You may want to try it, too.

As you may know, plants are categorized by their life spans.  Annuals last for one season only, no matter how nurturing you are. Biennials produce foliage the first year and flowers the second.  Perennials come back year after year. And tender perennials are what we call plants that are perennial in warmer climates.

Basil is an annual.  You can bring it in and it will grow well inside but don't expect to put it outside next year.  However, you can take cuttings of your plant and start new ones just rooting in water.  And they are often sold at grocery stores in winter if you didn't get them inside in time or just want more.

Parsley is a biennial.  I have found it grows decently inside but not as vigorously as outside.  By early next spring it is pooped out.  It is worth it though for the fresh taste, and as an indigestion aid I'm told (hence the sprigs put on plates in restaurants).  And a little goes a long way for me.

Rosemary is a tender perennial.  It grows outside all year in warmer zones.  In fact it is a shrub there.  Here it has to come inside to survive, but with our dry heat in winter that's a challenge.  Humidity is key to keeping it healthy.  I mist mine regularly.  And even then I have had mixed results in keeping it alive until spring.  So I have started harvesting it heavily throughtout the winter in case I miss my chance later on. 

Oregano is a perennial and as such, should have a cold period to survive.  This is why I have not tried common sage or English lavender indoors (just a tender lavender that lives outside in France). However, last year, come time to bundle up my pots outdoors, I realized that I had two different oreganos and one was not supposed to be hardy in zone 5.  So I brought it in.  Well that thing took off like wildfire.  I have since read that they are really the same plant with different common names so I kept one inside again.  And again, it is putting on new growth from the get-go.  So all bets are off now and I plan to try thyme this year.

Just to clarify, I am not using grow lights. I did not have one when I first started doing this and I reserve my tabletop one now for edible and annual seedlings to come.  One thing that is important though, besides as much natural light as you can give them in winter, is warmth.  Many sills are cold or drafty.  Putting the plants on sills near radiators helps but they can fry.  And the rosemary will definitely dry out there.  So try to place them away from the sill if you can and keep tabs on their watering needs.  It may be less in winter but maybe not if it's dry inside or they are near a heat source.  Also fertilize them.  This year I am using a water-soluble seaweed fertilizer every two weeks. 

And don't forget to use and enjoy them.  Even if you just have them a few more months, it sure helps get you through a cold, gray winter.

Pollinator Plant Preferences - Say that three times fast!

Here is an excellent guide to pollinators and their preferred plants. Most of our flowers and much of our food are dependent on pollinators. Honeybees especially need help since they are vanishing. It is interesting to see what colors and shapes different pollinators prefer.
 

http://pollinator.org/PDFs/Guides/EBFContinentalrx13FINAL.pdf

Fall Gardening Tips And To Dos

Fall is a great time to plant perennials, trees, and shrubs.  The air is cooler but the soil is still warm which invites root growth.  Do remember to water the plants though.  Even though temps may have fallen, roots still need help getting established.

Plant and divide spring and summer blooming perennials now.  Over the winter, newly planted or transplanted perennials will put their energy in to below ground growth, resulting in an improved root structure over those planted next spring.

Mulch before the ground freezes.  This helps avoid shallow-rooted plants heaving out of the ground during frost and thaw cycles.  This is especially important for newly planted perennials with shallow roots such as Heucheras. The mulch should go up to the plant but not touch stems or trunks. 

Organic mulch will break down over winter, improving your soil structure and fertility.  Shredded leaves can be used as a free mulch.  Passive soil amending rocks!

You can cut back perennials in the fall or do it in spring instead.  The latter cuts down on work and leaves some structure in the garden over winter. 

Do cut back any unhealthy plants and remove diseased leaves that have fallen.  This discourages soil-borne diseases.

Pruning summer and fall blooming trees and shrubs now is fine, or wait until leaves fall to see the structure better.  Do not prune spring flowering woodies or you will cut off your buds for next year.

Roses are best pruned in spring, not fall.  You can protect them with thick mulch or soil, and in this case pile it over the root ball.  Don't fertilize after September.

Perennials That Carry Your Garden From Summer To Fall

Most, if not all of us gardeners, have experienced a lull in our garden's glory during the summer.  Many plants are done blooming by then and others are not quite ready to start.  Sometimes too we find that everything seems to be blooming the same color.  Yellow is big in July.  Here are three suggestions to help keep color and interest in your garden during that transitional period from summer to fall.

* Perennial Black-eyed Susan (Rudbekia fulgida or its cultivars):
This is an upright plant with bright yellow daisy-like flowers and a brown cone (despite the name).  It will bloom in full to part sun. It does spread quite a bit however, so be sure you have the space.  That being said, it is a good candidate for tough spots such as along alleys or high traffic areas.  And it is very easy to transplant. 

* Wood Aster (Aster divaricata):
For full to part shade, consider this underappreciated gem.  It is a native with small, white daisy-like flowers blushed with pink, and gorgeous mahogany stems. It starts upright but its nature is to cascade.  Let it ramble among other perennials or plant it under shrubs.  

* Heuchera villosa 'Citronelle' : Heucheras also go by the name Coral Bells.  This harkens back to the days when the flowers bloomed in coral but the leaves were green.  Many, many hybrids have been bred now for their colored leaves (although they often have ivory blooms). Not all the early hybrids showed vigor, especially some in chartreuse.  'Citronelle' is a chartreuse heuchera bred from the native villosa species which tolerates our heat and humidity well.  It stays bold even in full shade. What has really impressed me in using this in gardens is how the color hangs on very late in to the season. 

If you have favorites that hang on or at least make the transition more colorful, please share them here.

Featured Perennials continues...Blackberry Lily

Belamcanda chinensis is also known as Blackberry Lily.  Like many common names, this is a misnomer.  It is not a lily and it is in the iris family.  The fanned, sword-shaped foliage is a giveaway.  The flowers are unique though.  Some say they look like lilies but they are more open and very small, and appear on branched spikes.  Perhaps it is the orange spotted coloring reminding some of tiger lilies.  To me they look tropical.

Blackberry lily is a full sun to light shade plant.  It grows 2-3 feet tall, with flower stalks held above the foliage.  The flowers appear in late summer and the plant keeps blooming for weeks. The flowers twist on top of the seed pods when spent.  The pods open to expose shiny black seeds that look like blackberries.  They dry on the plant nicely adding fall and winter interest.  I like to cut them for indoor arrangements.

A Marigold By Any Other Name....

...won't smell as good!  At least not to me.

I'm going to mix it up this time and feature an annual.  It is Tagetes tenuifolia, also known as Signet Marigold.  And it is a favorite of mine.  I don't often see it in stores but you can find seeds easily.

While I am not a fan of the smell of marigolds, this one has a lemony scent I adore.  The foliage is fine and ferny.  Flowers are smaller than typical marigolds but equally vibrant in oranges and yellows.

They also can deter pests from veggie gardens, and they attract bees and butterflies.  I am told they are edible but have yet to try them.  I just love their wonderful scent!

Featured Perennial - Bowman's Root

Our second featured perennial is Gillenia trifoliata a/k/a Bowman's Root.  This native plant has lovely mahogany stems and clean, pretty foliage.  But when it blooms it is even more lovely.  White flowers float above the slender stems like butterflies.  The blooms can last for months starting in spring.  And the show continues into fall when the leaves take on yellow and orange colors.

This is a tough, clump-forming, zone 5 plant that takes shade to part sun and grows to around 3 feet. It prefers acidic soil but will take some lime.  Best to keep it consistently watered but may exhibit some drought tolerance once established.  It makes a beautiful woodland garden plant.

An alternate botanic name is Porteranthus trifoliatus. The common name supposedly comes from settlors' description of Native Americans who use this plant as a medicinal.  It is also known as Indian Physic.

Hot In The City

Now that we finally have some heat in Chicagoland, don't forget to water. Containers especially need it often since they dry out fast. Water and let it drain through the pot.  Then water another time or two.

Also, keep newly planted trees and shrubs well watered until established. A good schedule is every day for the first week, every other day for the second week, etc., for at least three weeks.  Let the hose run at a trickle for 30 to 40 minutes.

A long soak every few days is better for all in ground plants and lawns than every day for a few minutes. It encourages the roots to go down for water and nutrients and not stay at the surface.  And water plants at the base - not on the leaves.  Some plants can get powdery mildew and other problems from wet foliage. 

Featured Perennials

Here is the first in a new feature on unusual perennials:
Geranium phaeum also known as Mourning Widow or Dusky Geranium.

This is a true hardy geranium that is shade tolerant.  Lovely maroon flowers are held above lobed foliage.  The cultivar 'Samobor' also has maroon splotched leaves.  Flowers appear in late spring to early summer.  It exhibits drought tolerance once established.  An easy and beautiful plant that is one of my absolute favorites!

Gardening Quotes

"Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!' "  -- Robin Williams